In 1967, the Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech entitled Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence. In one of the longest speeches he ever gave, King laid out the pitfalls and dangers of speaking out against the war. But he also explained all the ways his silence was a problem, ultimately concluding that:

“… no one who has any concern for the integrity and life of America today can ignore the present war. If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read ‘Vietnam.’ It can never be saved so long as it destroys the deepest hopes of men the world over. So it is that those of us who are yet determined that “America will be” are led down the path of protest and dissent, working for the health of our land” (King, 1967).

It is in that spirit, and as a movement descendant, and one of those “yet determined that ‘America will be,'” (King, 1967) that compels me to publicly join the global chorus declaring that the indiscriminate taking of life, the terroristic starvation of men, women, and children, and systemic oppression of an entire people in Palestine is inhumane and must end. Further, the United States’ financial and otherwise support of and tepid opposition to such policies and practices are as egregious and vicious as the acts themselves. Full stop. I know that on March 3, Vice President Harris issued the first and most definitive call for a ceasefire from the executive since this most recent version of the conflict began in October. During his State of the Union address, the President announced humanitarian support to the region. Since then, people have continued to be starved, humanitarian aid workers and journalists have been intentionally targeted and killed, and the US government continues to play the role of gun runner for Israel. It is hard to believe we are still serious in our so-called contempt.

To be clear, the United States does not have the power to solve this conflict independently. The more than half a century of history and entrenched powers all over the globe have all but assured that. But it can stop, or at least dramatically slow, the loss of life currently raging in the region. The US has the political, financial, and military clout to save lives, yet it has chosen to wield none. And that is criminal.

When I transitioned into the role of President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League in March of 2023, I did not hesitate to speak on many topics. I called out the mayor on his lack of transparency in selecting a new police chief. I was adamant about the need for authentic community participation in creating consent decree documents. I urged Metro Council members to take bold and unprecedented action on guns. I challenged JCPS to be more holistic in their thinking about safety. Time and again, on various issues, I used the megaphone of my position to amplify the call for justice, equity, and humanity. However, on this topic, at least publicly, the words hid themselves from me. And in total transparency, I lacked the courage to go and find them.

This lopsided conflict between the Israeli government and the people of Palestine is not new. It did not begin on October 7 and has been around longer than most of us have been alive. Moreover, for almost the same amount of time, the world has been bullied into an almost deafening silence–limited primarily to parroting the same half-truths and narrow histories over and over again. Nevertheless, it is time to break the habit and speak the whole truth. 

Ceasefire is not and should never be a dirty word. The government of Israel is engaging in heartbreaking and unspeakable atrocities, the cumulative effects of which are genocide. They should be stopped and held accountable. Saying so is not anti-Semitic. Speaking out against the Israeli government is no different than calling out the acts of inhumanity of North Korea, Iran, South Africa, Great Britain, or the United States. No matter how much they attempt to cloak themselves in culture or religion, governments are still governments. Political, financial, and military forces capable of incredible good and incredible harm. When they engage in wickedness, the world has a right to say so, and those who wish to be known as “global powers” are obligated to not only do the same but also act in opposition. If we are going to fund and weaponize those who unleash terror, we do bear some responsibility for stopping it.

The plight of the Palestinians and that of Black people in America is eerily similar. We have battled systemic oppression, marginalization, and struggles for rights and recognition. Palestinians have been forced from their homes through various means, including military occupation, settlements, and land confiscation. Similarly, Black Americans have faced forced removal from their lands during slavery and later through discriminatory housing policies like redlining. Palestinians face discrimination under Israeli occupation, with restrictions on movement, access to resources, and unequal treatment under the law. Black Americans face discrimination in employment, education, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.

I lead the Urban League in Louisville, Kentucky. We are, first and foremost, a civil rights organization molded by Whitney Young, Dr. King, and many other truth-tellers who always sought that which was in the best interest of all. We also serve in the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, the man who risked it all in the name of life and peace for people on the other side of the world. It is the spirits of Ali and King that have stirred my conscience and liberated my courage. The people of Palestine have a right to be free and in control of their land and their future, just like the people of Israel. And as it has done in Ukraine, the United States should wield its might to intervene there, in Ethiopia, in Sudan, and anywhere else that we can save lives. 

After all, “never again” has become a mantra adopted by the world, intended to cover anyone, anywhere.

About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists African Americans and those at the margins in attaining social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. For more information, go to lul.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter  (@louisvilleUL), or Instagram (@louisville_ul).